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CHAPTER IX.
THE WAR OP THE RED AND WHITE BANNERS.
~T~TT~HAT was the real cause of the long civil
VV wars that raged between the Genji and
Hdike", so long ago?" asked Taro of his father, as
they gathered round the andon, or paper-shaded
lamp, after supper.
" Next to the influence of the Buddhist priests in
inducing the Mikados to become monks, leaving
their throne to be filled with children, with the
luxury and effeminacy, coupled with the rapacity
and ambition of the nobles, each family tried to
get all the offices, ranks, honors, and salaries for
its own kindred, whether the men appointed were
fit for the duty required or not. Base flattery, dis-
honesty, and lying were common. The nobles did
not profess to take away the right of the people to
offer petitions to the emperor, but in reality they
opened all addressed to him and presented or re-
jected them as they pleased, so that the sovereign
was really separated from his people. In this way
it came to pass that, in time of misrule, the people
had no redress, and turned for help to the nearest
military leader who could protect them. Thus the
foundations for the feudal system were laid. In
Kyoto, as each noble family became stronger than
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